Scottish Executive

Bankruptcy

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many self-employed people have declared themselves bankrupt in each quarter since the first quarter of 2002.

Hugh Henry: The Accountant in Bankruptcy does not maintain statistics on the numbers of individuals who have been made bankrupt by employment status and we are therefore unable to provide the information requested.

Bankruptcy

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of individuals declared bankrupt in (a) each year since 1997 and (b) each quarter of 2003, broken down by local authority area.

Hugh Henry: The Accountant in Bankruptcy maintains the Register of Insolvencies in Scotland. Details of bankruptcies are held by Sheriffdoms rather than local authority areas and are compiled by financial year. The following tables give the number of bankruptcies for the financial years 1996-97 to 2002-03 and by quarters for the whole of 2003. Further information on bankruptcies is available in the Accountant in Bankruptcy’s Annual Report which is available at www.aib.gov.uk.

  

 Sheriffdom 
 Sheriff
Court

 Financial 
  Year (1st April to 31st March)


 96-97
 97-98
 98-99
 99-00
 00-01
 01-02
 02-03


 Glasgow 
  and
Strathkelvin
 Glasgow
 305
 309
 281
 275
 324
 306
 340


  

  

  

  



 Lothian 
  and
Borders
 Edinburgh
 228
 251
 268
 252
 234
 197
 234


 Duns
 12
 6
 15
 12
 6
 8
 6


  
 Haddington
 42
 49
 48
 65
 33
 64
 86


  
 Jedburgh
 14
 21
 28
 28
 31
 18
 28


  
 Linlithgow
 77
 100
 74
 123
 98
 118
 87


  
 Peebles
 3
 11
 7
 9
 10
 6
 8


  
 Selkirk
 14
 23
 12
 12
 14
 20
 14


  
  
 390
 461
 452
 501
 426
 431
 463


 Grampian,
Highlands
and Islands
 Aberdeen
 143
 177
 172
 187
 188
 211
 187


 Banff
 8
 6
 25
 15
 12
 16
 19


 Dingwall
 10
 12
 13
 16
 21
 17
 10


  
 Dornoch
 9
 5
 6
 9
 4
 11
 11


  
 Elgin
 48
 35
 51
 49
 47
 46
 42


  
 Fort William
 1
 12
 18
 12
 21
 18
 31


  
 Inverness
 36
 26
 37
 72
 41
 46
 59


  
 Kirkwall
 8
 5
 4
 9
 10
 6
 8


  
 Lerwick
 6
 12
 6
 10
 15
 10
 5


  
 Lochmaddy
 4
 2
 2
 1
 0
 1
 2


  
 Peterhead
 19
 32
 54
 45
 28
 45
 29


  
 Portree
 4
 6
 9
 7
 5
 2
 12


  
 Stonehaven
 24
 18
 29
 23
 25
 24
 34


  
 Stornoway
 12
 6
 8
 5
 4
 2
 5


  
 Tain
 7
 7
 10
 7
 7
 12
 11


  
 Wick
 14
 14
 12
 11
 14
 8
 9


  
  
 353
 375
 456
 478
 442
 475
 474


 North Strathclyde
 Campbeltown
 10
 12
 12
 23
 13
 23
 15


  
 Dumbarton
 67
 46
 52
 67
 83
 69
 99


  
 Dunoon
 15
 12
 18
 24
 18
 13
 26


  
 Greenock
 27
 29
 44
 43
 34
 35
 49


  
 Kilmarnock
 97
 136
 133
 156
 162
 160
 136


  
 Oban
 9
 10
 18
 28
 23
 25
 42


  
 Paisley
 97
 139
 168
 181
 171
 212
 127


  
 Rothesay
 10
 3
 9
 2
 4
 4
 3


  
  
 332
 387
 454
 524
 508
 541
 497


 South
Strathclyde
Dumfries and
Galloway
 Airdrie
 127
 90
 141
 129
 162
 173
 166


 Ayr
 89
 61
 96
 114
 83
 98
 113


 Dumfries
 45
 45
 51
 48
 44
 55
 43


 Hamilton
 173
 181
 199
 212
 159
 212
 214


  
 Kirkcudbright
 7
 15
 17
 16
 24
 20
 23


  
 Lanark
 15
 27
 54
 34
 30
 35
 36


  
 Stranraer
 21
 13
 12
 16
 15
 12
 12


  
  
 477
 432
 570
 569
 517
 605
 607


 Tayside,
Central & 
 Fife
 Alloa
 35
 36
 50
 34
 24
 31
 40


 Arbroath
 20
 30
 35
 37
 35
 29
 29


 Cupar
 41
 42
 55
 58
 41
 51
 50


  
 Dundee
 57
 69
 108
 115
 105
 139
 135


  
 Dunfermline
 98
 104
 123
 121
 102
 119
 91


  
 Falkirk
 113
 113
 153
 129
 110
 126
 108


  
 Forfar
 20
 19
 36
 20
 31
 27
 30


  
 Kirkcaldy
 138
 148
 152
 166
 151
 149
 171


  
 Perth
 99
 128
 139
 114
 71
 116
 149


  
 Stirling
 56
 48
 46
 44
 51
 48
 44


  
  
 677
 737
 897
 838
 721
 835
 847


 Total
  
 2,534
 2,701
 3,110
 3,185
 2,938
 3,193
 3,228



  

 Sheriffdom
 Sheriff
Court

  

  


  
 Jan-Mar 03
 Apr-Jun 03
 Jul-Sep 03
 Oct-Dec 03


 Glasgow 
  and
Strathkelvin
 Glasgow
 93
 87
 86
 68


  

  
  
  


 Lothian 
  and
Borders
 Edinburgh
 62
 52
 67
 74


 Duns
 2
 2
 3
 1


  
 Haddington
 25
 42
 34
 14


  
 Jedburgh
 11
 10
 10
 4


  
 Linlithgow
 28
 29
 37
 32


  
 Peebles
 3
 1
 3
 2


  
 Selkirk
 4
 7
 4
 5


  
  
 135
 143
 158
 132


 Grampian,
Highlands
and Islands
 Aberdeen
 44
 52
 57
 48


 Banff
 4
 3
 9
 4


 Dingwall
 3
 7
 7
 8


  
 Dornoch
 1
 1
 2
 2


  
 Elgin
 11
 21
 10
 15


  
 Fort William
 9
 5
 2
 1


  
 Inverness
 12
 9
 5
 9


  
 Kirkwall
 4
 0
 1
 7


  
 Lerwick
 0
 3
 2
 5


  
 Lochmaddy
 0
 0
 0
 2


  
 Peterhead
 10
 18
 22
 10


  
 Portree
 0
 0
 0
 3


  
 Stonehaven
 6
 7
 10
 8


  
 Stornoway
 1
 1
 3
 4


  
 Tain
 2
 3
 2
 0


  
 Wick
 1
 7
 3
 4


  
  
 108
 137
 135
 130


  
  

  
  
  


 North
Strathclyde 
 Campbeltown
 8
 2
 3
 1


 Dumbarton
 32
 20
 31
 17


  
 Dunoon
 4
 1
 4
 5


  
 Greenock
 13
 12
 18
 10


  
 Kilmarnock
 15
 43
 36
 50


  
 Oban
 7
 4
 10
 3


  
 Paisley
 28
 33
 26
 43


  
 Rothesay
 0
 2
 2
 1


  
  
 107
 117
 130
 130


 South
Strathclyde
Dumfries and
Galloway
 Airdrie
 35
 29
 21
 30


 Ayr
 29
 26
 20
 24


 Dumfries
 8
 16
 14
 10


 Hamilton
 55
 69
 57
 61


  
 Kirkcudbright
 8
 8
 3
 4


  
 Lanark
 5
 7
 9
 14


  
 Stranraer
 2
 4
 4
 1


  
  
 142
 159
 128
 144


 Tayside,
Central and 
 Fife
 Alloa
 6
 9
 10
 10


 Arbroath
 13
 15
 7
 11


 Cupar
 14
 17
 9
 19


  
 Dundee
 39
 38
 52
 30


  
 Dunfermline
 31
 24
 21
 46


  
 Falkirk
 26
 27
 31
 36


  
 Forfar
 5
 13
 7
 7


  
 Kirkcaldy
 39
 31
 48
 37


  
 Perth
 37
 31
 23
 23


  
 Stirling
 12
 16
 13
 11


  
  
 222
 221
 221
 230


 Totals
  
 807
 864
 858
 834

Business

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in Scotland were trading online in each year since 1997 and in each quarter of 2003, broken down by local authority area.

Mr Jim Wallace: The following table shows the number of businesses in Scotland that trade online from 2001-03 calculated from the results of annual e-business surveys carried out by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise since 2001.

  

 
 2001
 2002
 2003


 Business with websites that 
  allow customers to order products and services online.
 23,191
 31,688
 20,938


 Businesses that order products 
  and services online from suppliers
 35,138
 48,647
 48,657



  These figures were calculated by multiplying the proportion of businesses that trade online reported in the survey by the number of registered enterprises in Scotland. The figures are subject to normal statistical and sampling variation.

  The full survey results are available at Scottish Enterprise’s website at

  http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedotcom_home/sig/ebusiness- suppliers/software_publications_research/sebs2003.htm.

  Figures for earlier years are not available on a comparable basis. Quarterly data is not available as the surveys are conducted annually. Information is not available at the local authority level.

Business Support

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in arrangements for holding an annual business forum; what the format will be; what discussions it has had with representatives of the Parliament in respect of the forum, and when invitations will be issued to the forum and who will issue them.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive and Parliament are working in partnership to host a business conference on 22 and 23 April 2004. Thereafter, the Scottish Executive will convene an annual business forum for on-going engagement with the business community and to update on the key actions identified at the conference. The overall aim is for the Executive and the Parliament to engage jointly with business in focusing on key themes of Smart Successful Scotland and on growing Scotland's economy.

  Executive officials and representatives of the Parliament are now planning for the Conference. We expect to announce details soon and we will issue invitations to the Conference next month.

Council Tax

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated percentage collection rate of council tax is for (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05.

Mr Andy Kerr: In setting council tax levels, local authorities make assumptions about the total council tax income which they will receive, including arrears, in the coming year. This, expressed as a percentage of council tax billed, is published in column 5 on page 9 of the CIPFA Rating Review for 2003-04, a copy of which can be found in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 29256). Similar figures are not yet available centrally for 2004-05.

Dentistry

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) dentistry graduates, (b) applicants to dental schools and (c) places available for dental students there have been in each of the last two years.

Mr Tom McCabe: The latest information available on the numbers you have requested is as follows:

  Dentistry graduates (first degree)

  

 2001
 112


 2002
 124



  Dentistry applications

  

 2001
 413


 2002
 474



  In answer to your final question, the number of dental students in Scotland was traditionally based on a set number starting the course (maximum number starting the first year). However, in order to better plan the number of postgraduate places for dentists in Scotland, in 2000 the Scottish Executive set an annual output target for dental graduates of 120. SHEFC with the Universities are tasked with ensuring that graduate output is as consistent as possible and adjust the intake yearly based on course failure rates. On this basis, information on the number of places available for dental students is not held centrally, but retrospective data may be obtained directly from the dental schools.

  The new output of graduates for 2006 is presently estimated well above the 120 target with over 130 graduates expected.

Development

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make sufficient funding available to develop the specific opportunities identified in the Tiree development plan.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive understands that the development plan is still being compiled and will not be finalised until Autumn 2004. Ministers will be happy to offer a view on the plan and its implementation once available.

Education

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support the teaching of English as a foreign language (TEFL); how TEFL has been supported in each of the last four years; what information it has in respect of the organisations that support TEFL; what plans it has to promote TEFL abroad and which organisations will be involved in this process; what financial benefits TEFL has brought in each year since 1997; how many visitors have come to Scotland to learn English as a foreign language since 1997, and what funding will be made available to organisations to promote TEFL in each of the next three years, broken down by organisation.

Peter Peacock: The promotion of TEFL to international students visiting Scotland is part of the work of Education UK Scotland, which is core-funded by the British Council and supported by the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Higher and Further Education Funding Councils. Scottish Executive funding for 2002-03 for Education UK Scotland is £50,000, with an additional activities grant for 2002-03 of £30,000. Additional funding for the TEFL programme comes from the Scottish Independent Schools Council and the Scottish English Language Teaching Consortium.

  Education UK Scotland promotes TEFL through the production of promotional materials (including the Education UK Scotland website, which contains a searchable database of all English language courses available in Scotland), attendance at education fairs overseas and hosting visits to Scotland for education agents. Education UK Scotland is also working with the Scottish English Language Teaching Consortium (SELTIC) to add value to their efforts in marketing English language courses in Scotland.

  British Council Scotland estimates that in year 2002-03, there were around 21,000 (non-EU) international students in Scotland, generating an estimated £130 million for the Scottish economy and supporting around 7,000 full time jobs.

  The British Council's network of offices in 110 countries also continues to promote TEFL in the UK and overseas, and encourages students from overseas to come to all parts of the UK, including Scotland, to learn English.

Education

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost will be of the nationwide roll-out of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme.

Mr Jim Wallace: It is estimated that by full national rollout in 2007-08 the EMA programme will cost £43 million per year. Approximately 40,000 young people will benefit from EMAs to encourage them to remain in non-advanced post compulsory education in schools and further education colleges.

Education

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost will be for the North Ayrshire Council area of funding the Educational Maintenance Allowance scheme in 2004-05.

Mr Jim Wallace: It is estimated that in the first year of national rollout (2004-05) the EMA programme will cost £16.5 million. On full national rollout (2007-08) the programme will cost approximately £43 million. Estimates are not available centrally for individual local authorities.

  All local authorities will receive annual administration costs of £25,000 plus £15.00 per EMA student.

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5407 by Peter Peacock on 19 January 2004, whether it has not yet established how many of those who currently have a record of needs will not qualify for a co-ordinated support plan under the proposed Educational (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill; whether it intends to proceed with the bill before the number of people so affected is known, and whether implementation of the bill will be delayed until the number has been established.

Peter Peacock: Until the implementation of the new system, when each and every child with a record of needs will be considered for a co-ordinated support plan, the exact number of those currently with a record of needs, but who will not receive a co-ordinated support plan, cannot be determined precisely. Each child will have their needs and circumstances individually assessed and, of course, there will be a right of appeal to the tribunal. However, the financial memorandum, which accompanies the Additional Support for Learning Bill, estimates that 50% of children and young people who currently have records of needs will be eligible for co-ordinated support plans. I have set out to Parliament that if this estimate is exceeded I have funds to accommodate any variance.

  Education authorities will have a duty to identify and provide for all children with additional support needs whether or not they have a co-ordinated support plan. Generally, for those children and young people with a record of needs who are not eligible for a co-ordinated support plan, individualised educational programmes will be used to plan the additional support they require to meet their learning needs.

  It is intended to proceed with the bill and Parliament has now approved its general principles.

Energy

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of total (a) energy production, (b) primary energy consumption and (c) final energy consumption in the (i) industrial, (ii) service, (iii) domestic and (iv) transport sector in each quarter of 2003.

Lewis Macdonald: The data requested is not available for Scotland alone. However, the Scottish Executive is currently in the process of commissioning a study into energy supply and use in Scotland.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to update A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks and, if so, who will undertake this work and when it will be published.

Mr Jim Wallace: Ministers have made clear our commitment to A Smart Successful Scotland . We have also indicated our wish to consider how this strategic direction should be refreshed. The Scottish Executive is currently undertaking work to refresh our Framework for Economic Development and this provides the broader economic context for A Smart, Successful Scotland as well as policy statements in other key areas. Linked to this, we will soon commence a similar exercise to refresh A Smart Successful Scotland . This work will be led by the Department of Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning and steps will be taken to involve stakeholders and invite comments. I would expect to publish a revised document later this year.

European Funding

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding from the European Regional Development Fund remains unallocated, broken down by region.

Lewis Macdonald: In the current 2000-06 European Structural Funds Scottish Programmes, the total European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant remaining unallocated is detailed below.

  

 Scotland 2000-2006 Programme
 Unallocated 
  ERDF Funding (grant)
As at January 2004


 Highlands and Islands Special 
  Transition Programme
 £55,950,675


 South of Scotland Objective 
  2 
 £19,806,907


 East of Scotland Objective 
  2 
 £56,998,361


 Western Scotland Objective 
  2 
 £144,700,000


 Urban II 
 £4,000,000

Gaelic

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it received to the consultation on the proposed Gaelic Language Bill.

Peter Peacock: We have received over 3,000 responses to the draft Gaelic Language Bill consultation, broken down as follows:

  627 letters and e-mails

  56 responses to the West Highland Free Press cut-out campaign

  1,706 responses to the Cli-Gaidhlig postcard campaign

  2 petitions with 19 and 127 signatures respectively

  503 template letter responses.

  Responses not marked as confidential will be placed on the Scottish Executive web-site at www.scotland.gov.uk/gaelicbill.

Gaelic

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish the Gaelic Language Bill.

Peter Peacock: I expect to introduce a Gaelic Language Bill to Parliament later this year.

Gaelic

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the provision of Gaelic translations on signage in public offices.

Peter Peacock: The Executive considers there is merit in the provision of bilingual signage in public places. Bilingual signage provides a minority language with an enhanced degree of recognition, and it informs and interests visitors to those areas.

  Gaelic signage in Scotland is also in keeping with a range of other initiatives which the Executive has in place to raise the profile of Gaelic in Scotland. It helps to increase the confidence of Gaelic speakers and learners and it acknowledges that Gaelic is a language of Scotland.

  I expect those public bodies which produce a gaelic language plan in terms of the draft Gaelic Language bill to give serious consideration, in consultation with Bòrd na Gàidhlig, to the introduction of bilingual signage wherever appropriate.

Health

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Fosamax (70mg) and Calcichew D3 will no longer be prescribed to patients under 65 with osteoporosis, and, if so, what the reasons are for the withdrawal of these drugs.

Malcolm Chisholm: The regulation and safety of medicines is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

  The MHRA has advised that there are no plans on safety grounds to restrict the use of Fosamax (70mg) and Calcichew in patients under 65 with osteoporosis.

Health

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions the Minister for Health and Community Care has been approached by Dr Kenneth Aitken and Dr Gordon Bell, members of the MMR expert group, for a meeting since the report of the group was published and how many times the minister has met them.

Malcolm Chisholm: Dr Kenneth Aitken and Dr Gordon Bell have sought two meetings with me since the MMR expert group’s report was published in April 2002 to discuss research proposals. I have not met with them but Dr Aitken and Dr Bell have been encouraged to meet with officials of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) to discuss their proposals. The CSO, within the Scottish Executive Health Department, has responsibility for funding and supporting research into health and healthcare needs in Scotland. Dr Aitken and Dr Bell have never met with CSO officials but it remains open for them to do so.

Health

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS hydrotherapy pools there are and where they are located.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information about local NHS provision of this kind is not held centrally.

Justice

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the judgement of the Court of Appeal in the case of Angela Cannings and what implications it will have for similar cases in Scotland.

Colin Boyd QC: Crown Counsel have considered the decision of the Court of Appeal in England and Wales in R v Angela Cannings in the context of criminal proceedings in Scotland. Steps are being taken by the Crown Office to identify and examine all pending cases involving the murder and culpable homicide of a child under two years of age and all cases over the past 10 years where a person was convicted of the murder or culpable homicide of a child under the two years of age in order to ascertain whether the issues raised by the Court of Appeal arise in any particular cases in Scotland.

Justice

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases for shared residency and contact orders have been dealt with by Edinburgh Sheriff Court in the last year.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally.

Justice

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many shared residency and contact orders were granted by Edinburgh Sheriff Court in the last year.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally.

Justice

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals, granted shared residency and contact orders by Edinburgh Sheriff Court in the last year, had to return to court to have the orders enforced.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally.

Justice

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the Summary Justice Review Committee will be published.

Cathy Jamieson: The Summary Justice Review Committee held its final meeting on 22 January. I have now received a copy of the text of the Committee’s final report. Arrangements for publication are currently being considered.

People with Disabilities

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have (a) registered with, (b) been placed in work by and (c) achieved sustained work with the help of a job broker since the extension of the New Deal for Disabled People.

Lewis Macdonald: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations.

  Since the beginning of the New Deal for Disabled People extension July 2001 ESeptember 2003 Job Brokers within Scotland have achieved:-

  (a) 4,979 registrations

  (b) 1,594 job entries

  (c) 517 sustained jobs.

Renewable Energy

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how planning guidelines for wind farms could be altered to take greater account of local concerns and natural heritage issues.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Planning guidance already takes full account of these important issues. NPPG 6: Renewable Energy Developments confirms that "developments should not be permitted where they would have a significant long term detrimental impact on the amenity of people living nearby, and where the impact cannot be mitigated satisfactorily." All proposals must also be assessed against the policies set out in National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 14: Natural Heritage.

Sport

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish a bill introducing mandatory rates relief of at least 80% for community amateur sports clubs.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive will introduce amendments to the Local Government (Financial Provisions etc.) (Scotland) Act 1962 to provide 80% mandatory rate relief for community amateur sports clubs as soon as a suitable legislative vehicle becomes available.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is to develop and expand (a) cruise liner visits and (b) the cruise liner sector in Scotland; what funding is available to support the cruise liner sector; what organisations are responsible, and in what role, for the promotion of the sector, and how much funding each organisation will be expected to provide.

Mr Frank McAveety: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland, which is responsible for maximising the economic benefits of tourism to Scotland.

  VisitScotland does recognise the importance of the cruise market. It provided start up funding for CruiseScotland to attract more business from this sector, and is now represented on its board. The future structure of CruiseScotland is being discussed with VisitScotland, which has agreed to assist with research and development.

  There has of course been considerable private sector investment in the cruise market, for example at Ocean Terminal at Leith. The public sector has also been active where appropriate; for example Highland Council markets its cruise ports in the north to the international cruise market.

Water Charges

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it can provide to any companies whose ability to compete with overseas businesses has been adversely affected by increases in water rates.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is committed to creating the conditions to maximise sustainable economic growth in the medium and long term. Smart, Successful Scotland , our strategy for the Enterprise Networks, is crucial in delivering this. The most recent surveys from the Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and CBI Scotland all confirm encouraging increases in business activity.

  Water charges have had to rise to pay for much needed investment. Scottish Water has been tasked to make substantial efficiencies to ensure these increases are kept to the minimum. Already in their first year, Scottish Water’s operations became 10% more efficient.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Scottish Parliament Commissioner for Children and Young People

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Presiding Officer what the membership is of the interview panel for the appointment of the Commissioner for Children and Young People and when the appointment is expected to be finalised.

Robert Brown (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The selection panel convened to undertake the recruitment of a Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland comprised of the Presiding Officer, Scott Barrie MSP, Rhona Brankin MSP, Robert Brown MSP, Rosemary Byrne MSP, James Douglas Hamilton MSP and Margaret Ewing MSP.

  The selection panel have identified a candidate and pre-appointment checks are currently being undertaken. A motion nominating the successful candidate to the Parliament for appointment by Her Majesty will be lodged prior to the February recess.

  The following questions received holding answers:

  S2W-5627